TL-S Headlamps Refinished (56K maybe)
05-15-2006, 01:27 AM
#1
checkmate...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Red Stick, LA Chocolate City, LA
Age: 43
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TL-S Headlamps Refinished (56K maybe)
Materials: 1500 grit sandpaper, water, orbital buffer, Liquid Ebony, old t-shirt, and a folding chair
Estimated time: 6-7 hours
In all the pictures, only the driver side headlamp has been refinished, so it's referred to as the 'after' shot. The passenger side is shown first, then the driver side. I re-used previously used 1500 grit sandpaper, which is basically 2000 grit or finer sandpaper. The majority of the time is spent wetsanding by hand, rinsing, and checking to see that all the original "film" finish or oxidation has been removed. Then the fine scratches are removed with a cumbersome 10" orbital buffer. I used Liquid Ebony, which is only intended as a paint finish scratch remover and restorer, that seemed to work here too. Using the old t-shirt, the residue is removed to a nice clear shine. As for the folding chair, take a guess...
Removal of the grille and raising of the hood eases polishing with the buffer.
Driver side refinished.
No visual improvement noticable yet.
Up-close, it's scratched, pitted, oxidized, hazed, etc.
Major improvement.
Estimated time: 6-7 hours
In all the pictures, only the driver side headlamp has been refinished, so it's referred to as the 'after' shot. The passenger side is shown first, then the driver side. I re-used previously used 1500 grit sandpaper, which is basically 2000 grit or finer sandpaper. The majority of the time is spent wetsanding by hand, rinsing, and checking to see that all the original "film" finish or oxidation has been removed. Then the fine scratches are removed with a cumbersome 10" orbital buffer. I used Liquid Ebony, which is only intended as a paint finish scratch remover and restorer, that seemed to work here too. Using the old t-shirt, the residue is removed to a nice clear shine. As for the folding chair, take a guess...
Removal of the grille and raising of the hood eases polishing with the buffer.
Driver side refinished.
No visual improvement noticable yet.
Up-close, it's scratched, pitted, oxidized, hazed, etc.
Major improvement.
05-15-2006, 11:23 AM
#5
Senior Moderator
Very nice
Trending Topics
05-15-2006, 07:00 PM
#8
Sippy Cup (x2)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Age: 43
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
3 Posts
Yeah this definitely works well. I've done it to my friends and my girls car and what a difference. On my friends..his car actually failed inspection for the lights being to oxidized. After we did this and brought it back, it passed with no problem at all. It didn't take us quite 6-7 hrs. Maybe 1 hr, we both worked on it at the same time. I also didn't use an orbital buffer and I used 1500 grit and 2000 grit sadnpaper and 3M Rubbing compound the put a coat of polish and wax on it when I was done. It's definitely worth it though.
Nice job.. now that I know headlights can be restored I will have to get at it! 
05-21-2006, 09:00 PM
#14
checkmate...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Red Stick, LA Chocolate City, LA
Age: 43
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by big mike 13
damn... now i know what my front end needs...
it took 6 hours to do just one headlight???
it took 6 hours to do just one headlight???
I wonder if all that pitting comes from interstate insects of the winged variety impacting at 90-100 MPH?
Anyway, if you use rubbing compound instead like snowman said, it could probably be done in lesser time. I just used what I had.
05-21-2006, 09:11 PM
#16
checkmate...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Red Stick, LA Chocolate City, LA
Age: 43
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since it's been a week now, I also noticed an unexpected benefit.
I'm using the stock 4300K HID bulbs. At night, the light output on the road is now more superwhite than it was before. If you take a close look at the pics with the lights turned on, you can see the driver side is a little more blue. I didn't notice this in the pics at first, but lighting up the road stripes at night, I instantly saw a difference.
Just something else to encourage all of you to get crackin' on this!
I'm using the stock 4300K HID bulbs. At night, the light output on the road is now more superwhite than it was before. If you take a close look at the pics with the lights turned on, you can see the driver side is a little more blue. I didn't notice this in the pics at first, but lighting up the road stripes at night, I instantly saw a difference.
Just something else to encourage all of you to get crackin' on this!
05-21-2006, 09:13 PM
#17
checkmate...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Red Stick, LA Chocolate City, LA
Age: 43
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by wside09
dont have to take off lights and front bumper?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MetalGearTypeS
3G TL Audio, Bluetooth, Electronics & Navigation
6
08-29-2016 08:28 PM
LogicWavelength
3G TL Photograph Gallery
33
11-01-2015 09:38 AM